Agriculture Dept.

The need to grow more food was felt during the 19th Century because of the increasing pressure of population. According to the recommendation of Famine Commission(1881), Agriculture Department was established in 1883. Work started with the aim of helping the rural community to achieve higher productivity in agriculture. Agriculture and Land Records Departments were functioning together till 1907. After getting encouraging results in an effort made during 1915-16 to stop soil loss, Mr Kitting, the then Agriculture Director started soil conservation work from 1922.

Agriculture Department took up various land development activities with the enactment in 1942 and subsequent enforcement of Land Development Act in 1943. For the first time in 1943, the then Government prepared a comprehensive Agriculture Policy considering the problems in agriculture and allied sectors. According to this policy, emphasis was given on use of water as irrigation for agricultural crops.